Quiz the Coach - I Can't Stand my Teammate!

Kidzworld's got some free sports and fitness advice on baseball and dealing with teammates.

So ya dig sports but need some help with your game? Don't understand some of the rules of football, basketball or hockey? Got a gripe about P.E. class, skateboarders, cheerleading, coaches, or anything? Why not ?

Hey Coach,

I hate one of my teammates on my baseball team! He is also my classmate and we have been hating each other since fourth grade. He tries to make fun of me to the rest of the team and at school even. I want to quit, but I like playing baseball. What should I do?Hanz_23

Hey Hanz_23,
Like my father says, "Grudges are for the weak." It sounds like you two have carried this hate for each other for some time now; it might be time to let it go. I'm not sure what started your rivalry, but I'm guessing it was probably over something silly. Like it or not, you two are teammates and classmates, so you have to co-exist together. In sports, you don't have to necessarily like each other (Does Kobe and Shaq ring a bell?) but you must be cordial with each other. Whenever you say a word as strong as "hate" then you will never accomplish anything on the baseball field together, and you sure won't be having fun.

In sports and life, the best way to approach this situation, is to directly approach him like a man, and ask him what his problem is with you. If he refuses to try to work it out, at least you know you did your part. He is the one who will come off looking like a loser. Keep working hard on the baseball diamond and remember to have fun. That is why you play the game right? Your teammates will see that you are not affected by a petty fight and will start to respect you for it. Life is way too short to be wasting time holding grudges.

Do you need tips or advice on sports, fitness or health? to the Kidzworld Coach. Keep in mind peeps, the Kidzworld Coach isn't a doctor or a professional athlete or anything like that. He's just a dude who digs sports, plays 'em and knows a lot about 'em. You should always talk to your 'rents, a doctor or your school gym teacher before starting a new sport or a new exercise.